May 05, 2023
King cut price head of state says Peters
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says sharing a sovereign with the United Kingdom is cost-effective for this country.
King Charles is set to be crowned in London tomorrow evening, with New Zealand’s Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins among those in attendance.
Mr Peters says he believes Maori still hold a closer connection to the monarchy than many others in this country.
He says the alternative, moving to a republic and maintaining a president as head of state, could be expensive.
“It’s not costing us nothing to have the queen or the king in charge but what’s the cost of a change, and when you look at that you might be more hesitant. And do you want former a politician to be the president, because I know a lot I wouldn’t want to have to be the president of this country as long as I live,” Mr Peters says.